Is there a song from the book that you’d really like to learn?
Is there a particular song that you’d like to see featured on the blog?
Which songs should we blog next?
Want to send in a video of your group singing an old favourite?
Contact link.your.hands2@gmail.com for more info.
A Cowboy song of unknown origin (possibly Canadian or American). Recorded at Venturer Camp 2013.
From this valley they say you are going
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile
For they say you are taking the sunshine
That has brightened our pathways a while.
Chorus:
Come and sit by my side if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
But remember that Red River Valley
And the cowboy that loved you so true
I’ve been thinking a long time, my darling,
Of the sweet words you never would say,
Now alas, must my fond hopes all vanish?
They say you are going away.
Chorus
Don’t you think of the valley you’re leaving
Oh how lonely, and dreary it will be?
Do you think of the fond hearts you’re breaking
And the pain you are causing to me.
Chorus
They will bury me where you have wandered,
Near the hills where the daffodils grow,
When you’re gone from the Red River Valley,
For I can’t live without you I know.
Chorus
This short film made by a Midlands Woodcraft group features two Woodcraft Songs: Building Bridges (demonstrated as a round) and then Link Your Hands Together at the end.
Building Bridges
Building Bridges works as a round, and can also be sung at the same time as Wouldn’t It Be A Wondrous Thing.
Building bridges between our divisions
I reach out to you as you reach out for me
With all of our voices and all of our visions
We can make such a sweet harmony
Link Your Hands Together
This is a song often sung at the end of group nights or camps. Normally, only the first verse is sung.
Link your hands together
A circle we make;
This bond of our friendship
No power can break.
Let’s all sing together
In one merry throng;
Should any be weary
We’ll help them along;
Should any be weary
We’ll help them along.
Let us then laugh lightly
If sadness should fall,
May joyous laughter
Spring from us all,
Helping each other
We’ll lighten the load,
Arms linked with comrades
We travel the road.
Let us march together
With firm step and strong,
As out from the darkness
We all go along,
All sorrow is banished
We march to the light,
Link your hands together,
We’re strong in our might.
Welcome to the Ish Ash Osh song blog, the campfire singing resource for Woodies!
The idea is to try to gather as many videos or audio clips as possible of songs that the Woodcraft Folk sing. This blog will try to cover as many as possible that are in the “Songs for the Woodcraft” book, as well as others that aren’t. Hopefully, this will allow people to learn the tunes for new songs, and take them back to their groups.
There are other bits and pieces online that have done similar Woodcraft song projects, so posts about songs where there is other relevant material will credit the appropriate sites. This blog is intended to be a platform to bring all the different resources together, so that people can find out as much as possible in one place.
If you are a Woodcraft Folk leader, and wish to record your group singing their favourite song in order to be featured on the blog, then please feel free to email link.your.hands2@gmail.com This project is in its early stages and is in need of videos and audio bites, so get your district singing!
Blue Skies,
The Ish Ash Osh blog
Ish Ash Osh: the Woodcraft Folk song blog 